When the promotion playoffs were introduced, in the 1986-87 season, it was with the intention of keeping the season alive for more clubs later in the season. Although thereâs the annual âwe woz robbedâ complaint from supporters of the 3rd placed side (it happened to Pompey in â93!) it has done just that. Nowadays the Championship playoff final is described as the richest fixture in domestic football. So what are your thoughts of a similar thing at the other end of the tables? The bottom two [three from League One] would be relegated as usual, with the next four in the playoffs. This time of course it would be the semi final LOSERS n the âfinalâ, with the winner staying up and the losers being relegated. Take last season as an example. From the Premier League, Reading and QPR would have been relegated in the usual way, but Wigan would have been in the playoffs against Aston Villa, with Newcastle and Sunderland battling out the other. In the Championship Wolves and Bristol City would still be down, but Peterborough would have a playoff semi against Huddersfield while Millwall would have played Barnsley. In League One Pompey, Hartlepool and Bury would still be down but Scunny would have another chance, against Stevenage initially, while Oldham and Colchester would no longer be safe. In League Two Aldershot would still be down, but Danenham & Redbridge, Plymouth Argyle and AFC Wimbledon would still be fighting for their league survival, with the latter playing Barnet. I personally think it [like the promotion playoffs] will be great for the neutrals, although I realize it would provide extra squeaky bum time to supporters of those teams in the lower echelons of each division. What do you think?
The original playoff format was, 3 teams from div2 (Championship now) and 1 team from div 1 (now PL), the third from bottom club, I seem to recall.
And I think that the playoffs were around, when the original league from 1888 was expanded to 2 divisions, there was no automatic promotion or relegation and they were called test matches.
Some would say what is good enough for those aspiring to go up therefore should be good enough for those desperate not to drop - and as has been said would make seasons end more interesting and for some enjoyable.
